Amends the certified agreement and freedom of association provisions of the

Workplace Relations Act 1996

to: nullify clauses in certified agreements that purport to require payment of bargaining services fees; and prohibit conduct designed to compel persons to pay such fees. Also contains application provisions.

to require that, in order to be protected industrial action under the Act, such action must be preceded by a secret ballot process overseen by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission; and, consequential on commencement of the proposed

Workplace Relations Amendment (Genuine Bargaining) Act 2002

, allows protected industrial action to be taken without a secret ballot, after a cooling-off period; and provides for the recommencement of protected action after the end of a suspension of a bargaining period. Also contains application and saving provisions.

to exempt small businesses from the unfair dismissal provisions (except in relation to apprentices and trainees); and require the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to order that an unfair dismissal application is invalid if it relates to a small business employer.